Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue and to pass on the apologies of the Minister, who is in Brussels and, unfortunately, cannot be here.

As he will be aware, the Garda Commissioner determines the divisional structures throughout the State. The Minister does not have a role nor can she seek to direct the Commissioner regarding such matters. This is for good reason. We in this House have a policy role. Just as it is the Deputy's right to raise the points he just raised, there is a clear separation between the role of the Commissioner and the operational day-to-day duties he and his team carry out and the role of the Minister and her Department.

As the Deputy will also be aware, one of the core principles identified by the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland is that An Garda Síochána should be structured and managed to support front-line policing, which is at the heart of the concerns raised by the him. Front-line policing is what it is all about. As recommended by the commission and endorsed by Government, An Garda Síochána is currently in the process of transitioning to a new modern operating model. The new operating model structures require a change from the existing geographic model to a new functional-focused model. Specifically, the operating model will result in the enlargement of Garda divisions reducing the existing number of divisions from 28 to 21. Roll out of the model is underway, as the Deputy outlined in his contribution, with seven of the 21 divisions rolled out so far. The model is fully commenced in Dublin South Central, Cork city, Kerry, Galway, Limerick and Mayo-Roscommon-Longford, which were rolled out in 2022, and Clare-Tipperary, which was rolled out in August 2023. As we increase recruitment and as the operating model is rolled out across every division, we will see the reforms to strengthen community policing really take effect.

A particular strength of the operating model is that each division will for the first time have a superintendent dedicated to crime, a superintendent dedicated to governance and performance assurance and a number of superintendents in charge of community engagement.

An Garda Síochána has committed to ensuring superintendents will be in locations throughout a division and will not all be located in the divisional headquarters. There will also be a significant increase in the allocation of sergeants and inspectors to divisions, particularly in the area of community policing.

The continuing phased roll-out of the new Garda operating model will greatly benefit the Garda, supporting the redeployment of gardaí from non-core duties to front-line policing throughout the country creating larger divisions with more resources, increased Garda visibility in communities, a wider range of locally delivered policing services and a strong focus on community policing. The model will also facilitate more effective streamlining of administrative processes and reduce bureaucracy. Coupled with ongoing Garda recruitment, the roll-out of our community safety partnerships and community policing teams and bodycams, we are working to build stronger and safer communities.

Before this reform and the Commission on the Future of Policing, we were working with a policing model that was from a very different era that we inherited as a State. While the Deputy will reflect concerns there may be around change, not everybody likes change and change can be of concern to people, it is fair to say that nobody thinks we should stick with an old model from before the foundation of the State in some instances in terms of where Garda resources were placed. In this instance, we are seeing reform that is based on very significant work and with the expertise of the new operating model that is being implemented by the Commissioner and his team.

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